# NTSB FTW93LA181: Drlik Falcon XC, N687RD, Albuquerque, NM, June 8, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1993, 09:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.069541, -106.470123 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0695&lon=-106.4701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18769
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93LA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18769/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93LA181

## Probable cause

THE EXTRANEOUS AND UNCOMMANDED ROLL AND YAW DEVIATIONS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE AIRPLANE DESIGN WHICH PRECLUDED THE PILOT FROM TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION AND LED TO THE ENSUING HARD LANDING.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft performance,rolling maneuvers - extraneous (cause)
  - aircraft performance,yawing maneuvers - extraneous (cause)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, production/design personnel (cause)
  - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT/BUILDER STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED UNCOMMANDED AND UNCONTROLLABLE ROLL AND YAW DIVERSIONS AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED THROUGH GROUND EFFECT AFTER TAKEOFF ON ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD TO THE RIGHT OF THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND THE GEAR AND WINGS COLLAPSED. IN HIS ACCIDENT REPORT, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROTOTYPE DESIGN.

## Factual narrative

On June 8, 1993, at approximately 0920 mountain daylight time, a Drlik Falcon XC experimental homebuilt airplane, N687RD, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing at Double Eagle II Airport near Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The landing was attempted immediately after takeoff on what was to have been the maiden flight of the airplane.  The private pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the test flight.

The pilot/builder stated he had made several successful taxi tests prior to the first flight.  He further stated that as the airplane lifted off and passed through ground effect, he encountered a loss of roll and yaw control.  He stated that the maximum height attained was between 50 feet and 100 feet above the ground.  The instability continued and he elected to attempt a precautionary landing on the runway.  The airplane landed hard about 72 feet right of the edge of the takeoff runway and the landing gear and wings collapsed.  A 4 knot, left quartering cross wind existed at the time of the accident.  In his accident report, the pilot stated that the airplane was a research and development prototype design.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N687RD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N687RD-2013-07-01), registration cancelled 2013-07-01, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DRLIK FALCON XC
- Registry model: [Drlik Romuald FALCON XC](https://openairdocs.org/model/drlik-romuald-falcon-xc) (registry code 05658UT) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Engines: HONDA 1500 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Emory Aircraft, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 3, 1993, 0 hours before
- Departed: AEG
- Destination: AEG
- Airport: AEG, Double Eagle II, runway 22, 7,398 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 10 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19930608017349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930608017349A), Jun 8, 1993: Amd FALCON, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. On first test flight experienced loss of roll and yaw control. Aborted. Landed hard on. Collapsed gear and wing.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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